Empire's Daughter — Simon Brown

The New Land

The Kevleren family rules the Empire of Hamilay through their singular ability to access the--Sefid--the realm of magic--through Wielding by sacrifice. The greater the sacrifice--a prized possession, a favorite pet, even the friend and companion closer than any other, a Beloved--the greater the Wielding. Unlike the rest of his family, Third Prince Maddyn Kevleren has never been able to Wield. To prove himself, he becomes the empire's greatest general, tirelessly protecting Hamilay from its many enemies. But when he crosses his second cousin and former lover, Duchess Yunara, the most skilled user of the Sefid in the empire, he must take another path to protect his life and the lives of those he loves. Nothing in history has ever been as large as the Hamilay Empire, and it is beset by rivals on all sides. At the request of the empress, Maddyn will lead a secret expedition to found a colony in the New Land, where he can safeguard Hamilay's interests in that region--and stay far away from the powerful Duchess Yunara.

With his pregnant lover and his Beloved Kadburn at his side, Maddyn will gather a disparate group--from tinkers to farmers to soldiers to users of magic--in order to populate the new colony. But even a long sea voyage cannot protect him from the machinations of politic--and revenge....